Method of Monitoring Line Faults in a Medium Voltage Network

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of monitoring line faults in a medium voltage network ( 1 ) of the type comprising an electricity generating plant ( 3 ) supplying electricity to a plurality of customers over a network of medium voltage power lines ( 5 ), a control centre computer ( 9 ) and a plurality of measurement sensors ( 7 ) located remote from the electricity generating plant on the medium voltage power lines, each of the measurement sensors ( 7 ) further comprising three individual measurement units, each measurement unit mounted on a different phase of the medium voltage power line ( 5 ) with respect to the other measurement units of that measurement sensor, and each measurement sensor ( 7 ) having means to communicate with the control centre computer ( 9 ). The method includes the steps of synchronizing the measurement sensors ( 7 ) and thereafter calculating the out of balance current for the medium voltage line ( 5 ) on a cycle by cycle basis. On the measurement sensor ( 7 ) detecting a fault in the line a line fault measurement report is sent to a control centre computer ( 9 ) for further analysis. The method allows for the determination of the likely cause of a fault as well as the likely location of a fault.